MORE than £450,000 is to be ploughed into tackling racial discrimination in Redditch in the next few years.

The news came as plans for a new office dealing with race relations were unveiled to Redditch councillors.

Worcestershire Racial Equality Council (WREC) is to open the base here after being accused of focusing too much on Worcester.

WREC chief executive Mohammed Aslam told Redditch Council's Executive Committee the town would benefit from the investment.

WREC has already placed a permanent youth worker in Redditch and it is hoped all staff will be in place in the new office by September.

It is negotiating to move into the former Shopacheck site at the bottom of Mount Pleasant, Smallwood.